Indicator door chain



April 7, 1931. J. H. SHAW J 1,799,258 I INDI CA'IOR DOOR CHAIN Filed Nov. 10 1928 nmrsojsjmrrs JOHN H. snnw, or new HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT v i ornnw HAVEN, CONNECTICUT V Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE & COMPANY,

INDICATOR DOOR CHAIN Application. fil ed November 10, 1928. Serial No, 318,450.,

My invention relates to an indicator door chain, and more especially to a door chain in which means is providedextending to the exterior of the door on which the chain may be mounted to indicate whether or not the door is secured by means of the chain.

It is usual in hotels to provide'door chains on guest rooms to prevent intrusion by hotel servants and others, and with the usual door chain theservant, .or other person, mayun lock the door and partly open it before he becomes aware that the. dooris secured by means of the chain. It is, in general, an

object of thisinvention to provide means by which a servant or other person may'readily determine from the exterior 'of the 'door whether 'or not the door is secured by the .door'chain mounted on the interior thereof.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an'indicator door chain in which the operation of the chain itself may not be interfered withinany wayby the indicating means. i 4 I c To these and other ends, the inventlon consets in the novel features and comb nation of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. i i

In the drawings, 1 V a Fig. 1 is a view of a part of a door and door jamb, showinga' door chain according to my invention mounted thereon I I Fig. 2 is a view of the exteriorofthe door shown inFig. 1, andshowing an indicating means; V I V 3 is a sectionalview,along line3 3 of Fig; lgand V V Fig. 4. is a sectional view, along line ,4. 4

Referring to the drawings in which Ihave illustrated :my invention by "showing aipreferred embodiment thereof, the reference numeral 5 indicates a door broken away for the most part on which a door plate 6 is mounted, by any suitable means, as for example screws 7. In the particular instance illustrated, the door plate is pressed out of relatively heavy sheet metal and has depend ing peripheral flange-like edge portions which bear against the surface of-the door,

thus spacing the plate from the door and providing a hollow interior.

On an adjacent part of door jamb 8, a chain plate 9 is secured by screws 10, chain plate 9 having mounted thereon a loop 11 to which is secured chain 12, the other end of chain 12 being attached to a door plate engaging member, generally designated by the reference numeral 13 and comprising a substantially elliptical plate 14 having mounted thereon a loop 15, the ends of loop .15 extending through plate 14 and through a plate 16 which is provided with arpair of oppositely disposed outwardly directed arms 17 which are spaced from plate 14. a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the material of door plate 6. The ends of loop '15 are upset to secure the loop and plates 14 and 16 rigidly and permanentlytogether.

Door plate 6 is provided withan elongated limited by the length of chain 12.

The door and chain described up, tothis point are more or less of usual construction and itwill be apparent that it is impossible for one on the exterior of the door to determine whether or not the chain is in use except by attempting to open the door.

A suitable'and preferred meansfor indicating toone at the exterior of the door the condition of the chain on the interior thereof is shown particularly in Fig. 3 and comprises a plate 20 shaped to fit and more or less loosely mounted in the hollow interior of door plate 6, plate 20, under certain conditions to be hereinafter pointed out, being freely movable towards and away from door 5. 7 Door?) is provided with an' opening 21 in which is received a sleeve 22 having'mounted therein a button 23 having a rod 24 mounted therein and extending inwardly through opening 21 and adapted to contact with plate 2.0. Button 23 is normally urged outwardly by means of compression spring 25,. outward movement of button 23 being limited by collar 26 mounted 011 button shank 27, the end of the latter being upset to secure the collar thereon. Sleeve 22 is provided with an interior shoulder 28, against which spring 25 bears, shoulder 28 also cooperating with collar 26 in limiting the outward movement of button 23. Sleeve 22 may be secured to door 5 in any suitable or preferred manner, herein a plate 29 being provided having a flange 30 which is received between shoulders 31 and 32 on sleeve 22, screws 83 being provided for securing plate 29 to door 5.

When the door chain is secured, as in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the arms l7 on member 13 hold plate 20 inwardly away from door plate 6 and into engagement with rod 2%. In this position plate 20 resists movement on the part of button 2-3. and the immovzbility of button 23 will indicate to one at the exterior of the door that the door is secured by means of the chain. It the member 1 3 is withdrawn from the opening in door plate 6, plate 20 may more a considerable distance when button 23 is pressed, thereby indicating to one at the exterior of the door that the door is not secured by means of the chain.

lVhile I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will he understood that the same is not to be limited to all the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. In a mechanism for securing the door of a room, flexible means adapted to secure the door interiorly of the room, and means exteriorly of the room to indicate whether or not the door is secured by means of the flexible means. i

2. In a. mechanism for securing the door of a room, flexible means, a plate, means on the end of said flexible means to detachahiy engage said plate, and means cooperating with said plate and extending to theexterior of the room to indicate whether or not the flexible means engages the plate.

3. The combination with a. door chain adapted to secure the door of a room, oi an indicating means adapted to extend to the exterior of the room and controlled by the position of the chain at the interior of the room.

4. The combination with a flexible element adapted to be mounted interiorly of a door to secure the same, of a button adapted to be mounted exteriorly of the door, and a connection between the button and element adapted to hold the button against movement when the element secures the, door.

5. In combination, a flexible element and a Plate a ap o e m unted at he int ior f a .0 nd in coope t on i h the ele ent to restrict the movement of the door, means .1 th nd of said. e ement t det tab y or gage said plate, and means cooperating with said plate and element to indicate at the exterior of the door whether or not the element is in engagement with the plate.

6. The combination with a flexible element for securing the door of a room, of indicating means for indicating whether or not the door is secured by means of the element, said in dicating means including a part exposed at the exterior of the door and held in one position when the element secures the door and movable into another position when the door is not secured by said element.

7. In an indicator door chain, a chain, a plate, means on the end of said chain adapted to engage the plate to secure the chain thereto, a member mounted on the plate, a button adapted to be mounted adjacent said member, and means on said button adapted to engage said member, said member being movable by the button when the door is unsecured by the I chain but held immovable when the means on the end of the chain secures the chain to the plate. 7

8. In an indicator door chain, a chain adapted to have one end secured adjacent a door, a door plate, said plate being provided with an elongated opening, means on the end of said chain adapted to be received in said opening to secure the chain to. the

plate, a normally movable member mounted on said plate, said member being held against movement by said means when the latter is received in the opening in the plate, a button mounted on the exterior of the door, and means on said button extending through the door and adapted to engage said member, said last named means holding the button against movement when the door is secured by means of the chain.

9. In an indicator door chain, a chain, a

hollow plate, said plate being provided with an elongated opening enlarged at one end, means on the end of said chain adapted to be inserted into said opening to. secure the chain to the. plate, a member mounted in the i 10. In an indicator door chain, a chain, a

hollow plate, said plate being provided with an elongated opening enlarged at one end, means on the e d ofsaid chain adapted to be inserted into said opening to secure the chain to the p ate, a m mb o nted i he hollow nteri f sai pla e. said. membe being normal y nicely mo ble i the pl t but ensaseable y sa d mea s. the l tte is inserted in the plate to be held against movement, a button mountedadjacent the plate, and means on said button extending towards and adapted to'engage said member, said last named means holding the button against movement when the door is secured by means of the chain. 7

11. In a means for holding the free edge of a door from swinging away from the door jamb, a flexible member adapted to be detachably secured across the opening between the door and jamb, and releasable to permit the door to swing freely, and manually movable means at the outside of the door to indicate when said member is in operative position. 7 v

12. The combination with a flexible element adapted to be detachably connected across the free edge of a door of a room and to the adjacent door jamb to limit the amount the door may be opened, means without the door to indicate whether or not the door is secured by means of the flexible element, said indicating means including a part held against movement in one position of the flexible element and free to move in another position of the flexible element.

13. The combination with a flexible element adapted to be detachably connected across the free edge of a door of a room and to the adjacent door jamb to limit the amount the door may be opened, of a slotted element in which the end of the flexible element may be received, and means at the exterior of a room to indicate whether or not the flexible element is received in theslotted element.

14;. A member adapted to extend across the opening between the free edge of a door and a door jamb to restrict the amount the door may be opened, and an element at the exterior of the door, said element being normally movable but being held against movement when the opening movement of the door is restricted by said member. a

15. In a combination with a flexible element for securing the door of a room, indicating means for indicating whether or not the door is secured by means of the element, said indicating means including a part exposed at the exterior of the door, said part being resiliently held in position in one position of the element, and rigidly held in position in another position of the element.

16. The combination with a flexible element for securing the door of-a room, of indicating means for indicating whether or not the door is secured by means of the element, said indicating means including a part exposed at the exterior of the door, said part being resiliently held in position when the door is not secured by said element, and rigidly held in position when the door is secured by said element.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, 1928. 7

JOHN H. SHAW. 

